Rotary disc valve



ROTARY DISC VALVE Everett A. Remus, Charles C. Lamar, and Norman M. Huff, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Harper-Wyrnan Com pany, Chicago, [1]., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 10, 1957, Ser. No. 670,961

8 Claims. (Cl. 137-5992) This invention relates generally to a rotary disc valve and particularly to a valve of this type for controlling the flow of gaseous fuel to a burner used in gas appliances such as a gas stove.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of an improved valve of the rotary disc type employing two relatively movable members having abutting plane surfaces so ported that rotation of one of the members establishes or shuts off the flow of gas through the valve. Specifically, the present invention is concerned with valves of the above indicated character for use in controlling the delivery of fuel to the gas burner in order to obtain, for example, a high" flame and a low or simmer flame, these valves customarily being referred to as high-low type valves. In valves of the latter type, it is customary to provide an .ofl position in which the flow of fuel to the burner is interrupted, a high position in which a relatively large volume of fuel is delivered to the burner and a low or simmer position in which a relatively small volume of fuel flows through the valve. In order to maintain the low or simmer flame at the proper level and to prevent inadvertent extinguishment of this flame, it is desirable to provide means for adjusting the fuel fiow through the valve in the low position to a predetermined low value. Such an adjustment may be used to compensate for the difierent heating values of gases encountered in different parts of the country, thereby to maintain the low or simmer flame at the desired level. Specifically, as is well known to those skilled in th's art, in different areas the heating value or B.t.u. of the supply gas may vary with differences in specific gravity, pressure, changes in the type of gas employed and other factors of this nature and it is, of course, essential to provide for adjusting the gas flow through the valve to a predetermined low level.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to prov'de an improved means for adjusting the volume of fuel flowing through the valve when the valve is in its low or simmer position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a valve of the character indicated above which is economical in manufacture and convenient to operate but which will at the same time efficiently and safely control the flow of fuel through the valve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotor disc type valve which can be adjusted to provide a predetermined low flow of gas without removal of the valve from the stove and without requiring disassembly of part of the stove and a valve in which the adjustment will not change due to Wear of valve parts, such as stop means.

The foregoing and other objects are real zed, in accordance with the present invention, by the provision of a valve comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet ports and a rotatable disc type valve member cooperating with the valve body to control the flow of gas between the ports. The rotary valve member includes an inlet chamber connected through a passage to an elon- .Uflltd 812M265 t.

2,961,000 Patented Nov. 22 1,96!)

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gated recess and means are provided for rotating the valve member from an off position wherein the inlet port is blocked, to a low position wherein the inlet port is open to the inlet chamber and the outlet port is exposed to the recess, and also to a high position wherein the inlet and outlet ports are connected through the recess. An auxiliary valve is mounted within the rotary valve member in order to predetermine the gas flow through the passage between the inlet chamber and the recess when the valve member is in the low position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary disc valve of the type indicated above wherein an anuxiliary valve mounted within a rotatable valve member may be adjusted to alter the gas flow between an inlet and an outlet only when the valve is in its low or simmer position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved porting arrangement in valves of the above-indicated type, which arrangement minimizes the number of drillings and other similar operations required in the construction of the valve.

The invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood by reference to the specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, principally in section, showing the valve of thepresent invention in its low or simmer position and taken along a line substantially corresponding .to line 1-1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a front view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1, assuming, of course, that the entire valve had been shown in the latter, and with a portion of the valve cap broken away in order to illustrate certain details;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken alonga line substantially corresponding to line 33 in Fig. 1 assuming aga'n that the entire valve is shown in the latter;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line corresponding to line 44 in Fig. 1 again assuming that the latter shows the entire valve structure;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line 55 n .Fig. 1 assuming again that the latter shows the entire valve structure;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating a modification of the valve of the present invention .and taken along a line similar to the right angled line 66 n Fig. 4 and in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a reduced sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line 7-7 in Fig. 6, assuming, of course, that the latter shows the entire modified valve construction.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly .to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, the valve of the present invention is there illustrated as comprising a stationary valve body 10 and a rotatable valve member 11 having abutting plane surfaces 12 and 13, respectively, cooperating to control the flow of fuel through the valve. The valve body 10 is formed with an inlet extension 14 and an outlet extension 15 having external threads as indicated at 15a in order to receive the usual outlet jet and hood 16 connected to a conduit leading to the gas burner. The inlet extension 14 may also be externally threaded as indicated at 1421 in order to fit into a manifold or the like connected to a suitable gas supply. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the valve body 10 may also be provided with outwardly eX- tending ears or projections 17 and Beach having a tapped bore therein for the purpose of accommodating machine screws which secure a valve cap 20 to the valve body.

As previously mentioned, the valve body 10 has accurately machined flat sealing face 12. An inlet passage 21 extends axially through the inlet extension-14 and best shown in Fig. 4, the sealing face 12 may be provided with one or more recesses 26 which constitute pockets for containing a quantity of suitable lubricating material for use between the faces 12 and 13.

The rotary valve member 11 is best shown in Figs. 1

and 3 and comprises a member of generally disc-like form 1 which, as previously indicated, includes a flat accurately machined sealing face 13 abutting the fiat face 12 of the valve body and having an outside diameter. equal to that of the face 12. The sealing face 13 includes a blank region indicated at 13a (Fig. 3) a portion of which is adapted, in the off position of the valve, to cover the inlet port 23 in order to block the latter and prevent the How of fuel from the inlet extension 14 to the-outlet 16. The valve member 11 further includes an elongated, generally arcuate slot or recess 27 and a generally circular inlet passage 28 interconnected by an inclined passageway 29 best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The slot 27 and the passage 28 both open to the sealing face 13 and function to connect the inlet port 23 to the outlet port 24 as the valve member 11 is rotated from its off position. Specifically, the ports 23 and 24 have their centers located approximately 90 degrees apart upon a circle centered with respect to the sealing face 12. The arcuate slot 27, on the other hand, extends for approximately 120 degrees and has its center in the middle of the sealing face 13. In the full on position of the valve, the slot 27 spans the space between the ports 23 and 24 and provides for delivery of fuel directly from the inlet to the outlet.

The inlet passage 28 in the rotary valve element 11, as is best shown in Fig. 1, may comprise transversely offset portions 28a and 2811 connected by an inclined passage 28c. The passage portion 28a terminates in an inlet port 30 which is adapted to register with the inlet port 23 when the valve is in the low or simmer position as' shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 so that gas flows from the inlet passage 21 through the ports 23 and 30, through the passage 28, through the passageway 29 and through the arcuate slot 27 to the outlet port 24.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the volume of gas flow from the passage 28 to the passageway 29 may be varied or adjusted by means of a rotatable adjusting member or auxiliary valve 31 carried by the valve member 11. More particularly, the auxiliary valve 31 includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve portion 32 fitting snugly within the passage portion 28b and further includes an enlarged slotted head 33 which is adapted to be rotated by means of a screw driver or the like in order to turn the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion 32 is provided with a radial port 34 in registry with the passageway 29. The port 34 and the passageway 29 cooperate to provide a variable orifice the size of which may be altered by turning the adjusting member'31, thereby to regulate the volume of fuel flow between the passage 28 and the elongated slot 27.

The valve cap 20 is generally cup-shaped and includes a circular side wall 36 and an end wall 37. The side wall, as indicated above, carries radially projecting ears 38 which are provided with apertures in alignment with the tapped bores in the projections 17 and 18 on the valve body. As previously mentioned, machine screws 39 are preferably passed through the apertures in the ears 38 and are accommodated within the tapped bores for the purpose of holding the valve cap 20 upon the valve body. The periphery of the sealing face 12 may be suitably recessed to accommodate the inner end of the wall 36 thereby to aid in centering the cap 20 with respect tothe valve body 10. p

The end Wall 37 of the cap includes an axially extending central boss 40 for journalling a valve stem 41. The latter stem is preferably flatat its outer end as indicated at 41a so that it has a D-shaped cross section for insertion within a correspondingly shaped opening in a suitable valve handle (not shown). The central portion of the stem 41 is cylindrical and is dimensioned to fit closely within the boss 40 but is, of course, rotatable with respect to the end wall 37 The inner end of the stern 41'carries a generally circular plate 43 for effectively connecting the stem to the rotatable valve member 11. To this end the extreme inner end of the stem 41 may include a somewhat rectangularly shaped reduced portion 41b which extends through a. similarly shaped central opening in the plate 43 and has its outer ends peened or turned over in order to complete the assembly of the plate 43 upon the valve stem. The plate 43 includes an inwardly projecting finger 44 fitting into a recess 45 in the valve member 11 in order to complete the connection between the valve stem and the rotatable valve member.

The plate 43 is best shown in Fig. 5 and it includes, in addition to the finger 44 mentioned above, a plurality of projections extending toward the end wall 37 of the cap 20. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of diametrically opposed projections 46 and 47 are utilized, but a greater number may be used if desired. The projections are adapted to be seated within suitable apertures provided in the end wall 37 in order to lock the valve member 11 in its off position. Specifically, the projection 46 is adapted to be forced into an opening 37a in the end wall 37 while the projection 47 is adapted to be forced into an opening 37b. In order to provide for the seating of the projections within their associated openings in only one position of the valve, the projection 46 is somewhat wider than the projection 47 and, in addition, the projection 47 is located somewhat further from the center of the plate 43 than is the projection 46. The slot 37b is dimensioned so that it closely receives the projection 46. The slot 37a, on the other hand,'is dimensioned to receive the projection 47 but his too narrow to permit the insertion of the wider projection 46. The projection 47 is never aligned with the opening 37b. Thus, it will be observed that the projections 46 and 47 can be moved into their associated openings only when the projection 46 is in registry with the slot 37b, at which time, the projection 47 is aligned with opening 37a.

In order to urge the valve stem 41 and the plate 43 axially away from the rotatable valve member 11 and to bias the faces 12 and 13 into tight sealing engagement, a helical coil spring 50 is provided. This spring has one end seated within a circular recess 51 in the rear face of the valve member 11 and has its other end abutting against the plate 43. The spring 50 thus urges the plate 43 in a direction tending to force the projections 46 and 47 into their associated openings in the end plate 37. 7

'The plate 43 also includes a peripheral opening 52 which surrounds the head 33 of the adjusting member 31 and is aligned with the slot 37a when the valve is in its low or simmer position. Thus, when the valve is in the latter position, a screw driver or similar adjusting tool may be inserted through the aligned openings 37a and 52 for the purpose of turning the adjusting member 31 in order to vary the flow of fuel between the passage 28 and the slot 27 in the manner described above.

The plate 43 is also provided with diametrically opposed projections 53 and 54 extending radially beyond the finger 44 and the projections 46 and 47. These projections are located approximately degrees apart on the periphery of the plate 43 and cooperate with an indentation or depression 55 in the side wall 36 of the cap 20 to limit the turning movement "of the valve.

Specifically, the projection 53 cooperates with indentation 55 to prevent rotation of the valve past the full ofi position while the edge 54a of projection 54 engages a shoulder 55a to provide a positive stop when the valve is in the full on or high position. Obviously, the projection 54 and the indentation 55 cooperate to prevent turning of the valve beyond the high position. Thus, it will be observed that the projections 53 and 54 and the indentation 55 limit the turning movement of the valve stem 41 and the valve member 11 to approximately 140 degrees.

Turning now to the operation of the valve illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, it will be observed that the coil spring 50 urges the rotatable valve member 11 against the sealing face 12 of the valve body so that the contacting surfaces 12 and 13 provide a gas seal. When the valve is in the oif position the blank portion 13a of the rotatable valve member 11 covers the inlet port 23 so that no fuel is delivered to the outlet 16 of the valve. In this position the projection 46 is aligned with the slot 37b and the projection 47 is aligned with the slot 37a and, as a result, the coil spring 50 forces the valve stem 41 and the plate 43 away from the valve member 11 to seat the projections 46 and 47 within their associated slots. By this arrangement, the stem 41 and the rotatable valve member 11 are locked in the OE position. In order to turn the valve member 11 from the ofi position, the stem 41 is moved axially to compress spring 50 and to remove the projections 46 and 47 from the openings in the end wall 37 whereupon the valve stem may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 and in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. When the valve member 11 has turned about 70 degrees from the OE position, the ports 23 and 30 are brought into registry in what is termed the low or simmer position of the valve. In this position fuel flows from the inlet 21 through the passage 28, through the passageway 29 and through the slot 27 to the outlet passage 25. The amount of gas flow to the outlet with the valve in the low position may be adjusted in the manner previously indicated by rotation of the adjusting device 31. It will be recalled that in the low or simmer position the slotted head 33 of the adjusting member is aligned with the opening 37a in order to permit the above described adjustment.

If the valve is turned through about 70 degrees from its low position, or about 140 degrees from its off position, the projection 54 engages the indentation 55 to provide a stop for limiting the valve turning. In this position, which is termed the high or full on position, the arcuate slot 27 spans the distance between the ports 23 and 24 and effects delivery of fuel from the inlet passage 21 to the outlet passage 25 without passing through either the inlet passage 28 or the passageway 29.

In view of the foregoing description it will be observed that the adjusting member is carried on the rotatable valve member and, hence, the size of the variable orifice formed between opening 34 and passageway 29 is not varied by movement of the valve stem or the plate 43 carried thereby. Accordingly, the gas fiow in the low position may be accurately controlled. The adjustment for predetermining the low flow can be eifected without disassembly of the valve or stove and, once the adjustment has been eifected, it will not change due to wear of parts such as stops for limiting rotation of the valve disc.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 which show a construction wherein the low or simmer adjustment is made through an opening in the valve stem. The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6 is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and corresponding elements have therefore been designated by identical reference numerals. Thus, for example, the valve body 10, the cap and the plate 43 employed in the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are similar to corresponding elements previously described.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a rotatable valve element 60 is employed having an accurately machined flat sealing surface 61 cooperating with the fiat sealing surface 12 of the valve body 10 to control the flow of fuel from the inlet passage 21 to the outlet passage 25. The valve member 60 includes an elongated arcuate slot or recess 62 like the slot 27 previously described and also includes an inlet passage or chamber 63 which is spaced from the slot 62. A central chamber 64 in the valve member 60 is connected to the slot 62 by means of an inclined transverse passage 65 and is also connected to the inlet passage 63 by means of a similar inclined transverse passage 66. When the valve shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is in the low or simmer position the inlet passage 63 registers with the port 23 so that fuel is delivered through the passage 66 through the chamber 64, through the passage 65 and through the arcuate slot 62 to the outlet passage 25. The amount of fuel delivered via the described route may be controlled by turning an adjusting member or auxiliary valve 67 having a hollow sleeve portion 68 accommodated within the chamber 64 and also having a slotted head portion 69 which is adapted to be turned by means of a screw driver or the like. The sleeve 68 includes a first radial opening 70 co operating with the passageway 66 to provide a variable orifice and a second radial opening 71 cooperating with the passageway 65 to provide another adjustable orifice. The sizes of both of the described orifices may, of course, be adjusted simultaneously by turning the adjusting member 67 in order to vary the degree of registration between each of the ports 70 and 71 and its associated passageway, thereby to regulate the gas flow through the valve in the low position.

In order to permit insertion of a tool for turning the adjusting member 67, a hollow valve stem 72 having an axial opening 73 therein is employed. The inwardly disposed end of the valve stem 72 carries plate 43 which is constructed in the manner described above. A coil s ring encircling the head 69 of the adiusting member 67 is disposed between the rotatable valve member 60 and the plate 43 for the purposes of urging the rotatable valve member against the sealing face 12 and of biasing the valve stem 72 and the plate 43 toward the end wall 37 of the cap 20.

The valve illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 operates in a manner generally similar to the valve shown in Fig. 1. Thus, in the off position the inlet port 23 is blocked by the rotatable valve member 60 and the projections on the plate 43 are urged into engagement with slots in the end wall 37 in order to lock the valve member 60 against rotation. As indicated above, the valve may be turned from the off position by manually forcing the stem 72 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 6 in order to compress the coil spring 74 and to move the projections on the plate 43 out of engagement with their associated slots. The rotatable valve member 70 may then be turned through approximately 70 degrees or slightly less from the off to the low position in order to bring the passage 63 into registry with the inlet port 23 whereupon fluid flows through the passage 65, through opening 70, through chamber 64, through slot 71, through passage 66 and through the slot 62 to the outlet passage. As previously indicated, the amount of fuel traversing this path may be regulated by turning the adjustable member 67. Continued turning of the rotatable valve member 60 through about 70 degrees from the low position to the high position brings the arcuate slot 62 into registry both with the port 23 and with the port 24, thereby to effect delivery of fuel from the inlet passage 21 to the outlet passage 25 through the slot 62. The plate 43 and the cap 20 again cooperate in the manner previously described to prevent turning of the valve member beyond the high position.

-It will again be observed that the adjustable member 67 is carried by the rotatable valve element 60 and, accordingly, any motion between the valve stem or the plate 43 and the' rotatable valve member has no effect upon the amount of fuel flowing through the valve in the low position. Thus, the fuel flow can be carefully and accurately controlled. Also, the adjustment can be made easily upon'removal of the valve handle and it is not disturbed by wear of parts.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many' modifications may be made and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. r -What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A gas valve comprising a valve body with a first flat face having spaced apart inlet and outlet ports opening through the face, a rotatable disc type valve member having a second fiat face seating on the first face, said valve member having an inlet chamber and an elongated recess formed therein and opening to the second face,

means movably and drivingly connected to said valve member for rotating said valve member with respect to the valve body from an oif position wherein the inlet port is isolated from the outlet port, to a low position wherein said inlet chamber registers with said inlet port and said recess registers with said outlet port and to a high position wherein the inlet and outlet ports are connected through the recess, means including a passage in 'said valve member connecting said chamber and said recess, and an auxiliary valve mounted solely upon said valve member and cooperating with said passage to predetermine the gas flow from the chamber to'the recess through said passage in said low position. 2. A gas valve comprising a valve body with a first fiat face having spaced apart inlet and outlet ports opening through the face, a rotatable disc type valve member having a second fiat face seating on said first face, said valve member having an inlet chamber and an elongated slot formed therein and opening to the face in said valve member, stem means movably and drivingly connected to said valve member for rotating the valve member with respect to the valve. body from an oif position wherein the inlet port is isolated from the outlet port, to a low position wherein said inlet chamber registers with said inlet port and said slot registers with said outlet port and to a high position wherein the inlet and outlet ports are connected through the slot, spring means between said valve, member and stem means for urging said first and second faces into seating engagement, means including a passage insaid valve member connecting said chamber and said slot, and a rotatable sleeve carried solely by said valve member and including an opening therein cooperating with said passage, said sleeve being adjustable from the exterior-of the valve to vary the gas fiow from the chamber to the slot when the valve member is in the low position, said slot being dimensioned to span the space between the inlet and outlet ports when the valve member is in the high position. 3; A gas valve comprising a valve body with a first fiat face having spaced apart inlet and outlet ports opening through the face, a rotatable disc type valve member having a second fiat face seatingon the first fiat face, said; valve m'ember having an inlet chamber and an elongated slot f orm ed in said second'face, a valve stem, a plate mounted on said stem and movably and drivingly engaged with said valve member so that rotation of said stem turns the valve member with respect to the valve body from an cit position wherein the inlet port is isolated from the outletport, toa low positionwherein said inlet chamber registers with said inlet port and said slot registers with said outlet port and to a high position wherein the inlet and outlet ports are connected through the slot, a spring interposed between said plate and said valve member to urge said flat faces together, a housing secured to said valve body, structural elements on said housing and said plate cooperating to provide a stop for limiting rotation of the valve member in the high posi tion, means including a passage in said valve member connecting said chamber and said slot, and an auxiliary valve carried solely by said valve member and cooperating with said passage, said auxiliary valve being adjustable to predetermine the gas fiow from the chamber to the slot when the valve member is in said low position, said slot being dimensioned to span the space between the inlet and outlet ports when the valve member is in the high engaged with said valve member so that rotation of said stem turns the valve member with respect to the valve body from an olf position wherein the body inlet port is isolated from the body outlet port, to a low position wherein said inlet chamber registers with said inlet port and said slot registers with said outlet port and to a high position wherein the inlet and outlet ports are connected through the slot, a spring interposed between said plate and said valve member to urge said fiat faces together, a cup-shaped housing secured to said valve body and hav; ing spaced apart openings in an end wall thereof, said plate having projections thereon respectively accommodated within certain of said openings when the valve ,member is in the off position, structural elements on said low position, said slot being dimensioned to span the space between the inlet and outlet ports when the valve member is in the high position.

5. The gas valve defined by claim 3 wherein the valve member is provided with a valve chamber extending axially thereof but isolated from said second face for accommodating the auxiliary valve and wherein said valve stem includes an axial opening aligned with said auxiliary valve to permit insertion of a tool for adjusting the position of the auxiliary valve.

6. The gas valve defined by claim 3 wherein the inlet chamber extends through, but is ofiset from the axis of rotation of, the valve member to accommodate the amt iliary valve and wherein said plate includes an opening in alignment with said auxiliary valve and With one of the openings in said housing when said valve member is in the low position, thereby to permit insertion of a tool to engage said auxiliary valve in order to adjust the position of-the 1atte'r.-'- i l 7; The gas valve defined by claim 4 wherein the inlet chamber-extends through, but is ofiset from theaxisof rotation of, the valve member to accommodate the auxiliary valve and wherein said plate includes an opening in alignment with said rotatable sleeve and with one of the openings in said housing when said valve, member is in the low position, thereby to permit insertion of 1a tool to engage said rotatable sleeve in order to adjust the Refere ces C ted in the file Of this Patent Position of the latter. UNITED STATES PATENTS 8. The gas valve defined by claim 4 wherein the valve 2,334,346 Mueller Nov. 16 1943 member is provided with a valve chamber extending aXi- 5 2,590,569 Peterson Man 5 1952 ally thereof but isolated from said second face for aCCOrn- 2 34 949 Robinson A 14 1953 moclating the auxiliary valve and wherein said valve stem 2,650,612 Brumbaugh Sept, 1, 1953 includes an axial opening aligned with said rotatable 2,747,613 Reinhart May 29, 1956 sleeve to permit insertion of a tool for adjusting the POSi- 2,763,289 Mueller Sept. 18, 1956 tion of the sleeve. 10 2,765,809 Lamar Oct. 9, 1956 

